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Place Name
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Oahu
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Pronunciation
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o-AH-hoo
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Place Status (Type)
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island
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Population
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836,231 (1990)
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Location
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Honolulu County, Hawaii (HI), United States, North America
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Latitude
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unknown
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Longitude
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unknown
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Oahu
(o-AH-hoo), island ( 593 sq mi/1,536 sq
km; 1990 pop. 836,231), 3d-largest and chief isl. of Hawaii, comprising
(with offshore isls.) Honolulu co., separated from Kauai isl.
(NW) by Kauai Pass, from Molokai isl. (E) by Kaiwi Channel. Oahu is
composed of 2 parallel mt. ranges, Waianae (W) and Koolau (E),
separated by a broad, rolling plain dissected by deep gorges. Mt. Kaala
(4,046 ft/1,233 m) is the isl.'s highest
peak. Oahu has no active volcanoes, but there are many extinct craters,
among them Diamond Head, Koko Head, and Punchbowl. Pearl Harbor indents
the isl.'s S coast. Honolulu, the state capital and the economic
center of Hawaii, and capital of Honolulu co., is on the highly
urbanized S coast of Oahu. Honolulu is the site of the Univ. of Hawaii
(at Manoa), Chaminade Univ., Hawaii (HI) Pacific Univ., and Honolulu and
Kapiolani community cols. The isl. is an important defense area that
includes the hq. of the U.S. Marine Corps Pacific Command and the Pearl
Harbor naval base and Hickam Air Force Base. Other military
installations include Kaneohe Marine Corps Base (on Mokapu Peninsula),
Barbers Point Naval Air Station (SW), Lualualei Naval Reservation (W),
Schofield Barracks Military Reservation and Wheeler Army Air Field
(center), Kaena Military Reservation (NW). There are many swimming
beaches (including Waikiki at Honolulu). Large pineapple plantations
persist in central rural areas of the isl., but sugarcane is no longer
grown. Dairy farming, fruit, vegetables, and nursery crops and fishing
are important activities, but services, tourism and military operations
are the principal economic mainstay of Oahu. Honolulu is main mfg.
center of Oahu and state; new industrial centers include Aiea, Waipahu,
and Kapolei. Urban development has spread W, N and NE from Honolulu; 3
interstate highways extend in these directions. Numerous forest
reserves protect mt. areas, including Waianae Kai Forest Reserve (W)
and Kahuku, Ewa, Waiahole and Honolulu Watershed (E). Kahana Valley and
Sacred Falls state parks and Malaekahana State Recreational Area in NE;
Kuaiwa Heiau State Recreational Area in S; Kaena Point State Park in
NW; Honolulu Stadium State Park and Diamond Head State Monument at
Honolulu.
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